Teja. I thank thee, Balthilda. (_Raising the curtain_.) Ho there, watch! Come in, but prudently so as not to wake the old man.... (_Watcher enters_.) Here, take this basket with food and wine, and divide it honestly.... Say your Queen sends it. Watcher. May I thank the Queen, Sire? (Teja _nods_. Watcher _shakes her hand heartily. Exit_.) Teja. Go--and bring me to eat! Balthilda (_perplexed_). Sire--why--mockest thou--me? Teja. Dost thou then not understand me? If thou wilt be my wife, thou must offer me my property, not thine! Balthilda. Is not all of mine thy property, Sire? Teja. Hm! (_Silence. He takes her hands._) Call me not Sire and call me not King.... Knowest thou not my name? Balthilda. Thy name is Teja! Teja. Say it yet once again! Balthilda (_softly, turning away_). Teja! Teja. Is the name so strange to thee? (Balthilda _shakes her head_.) Teja. Then why hesitate? Balthilda. Not for that, Sire! Since I knew that I was to serve thee as thy wife, I have often named thee by day and in the night. Only I never said it aloud.... Teja. And before thou knewest it, what was then thy thought? Balthilda. Sire, why dost thou ask? Teja. And why dost thou not answer? Balthilda. Sire, when I heard of thy bloody commands, and the others feared thee--then I often thought: How unhappy must he be that the destiny of the Goths compelleth him to such deeds! Teja. That hast thou thought?--That hast thou----? Balthilda. Sire, was it wrong that I should think it? Teja. Thou hadst never seen my face, and thou didst understand me? And they who were around me, the wise men and tried soldiers, they understood me not!... Who art thou, woman? Who hath taught thee to read my heart? Thee, thee alone of all? Balthilda. Sire--I---- Teja.